Syrian Government Forces Recapture Historic Palmyra From ISIS

After several weeks of fighting, Syrian government troops backed by Russian airstrikes were able to gain control of the ancient city of Palmyra this weekend, driving out ISIS militants who took the city last May. Archaeologists were rushing to the site to assess the damage, after earlier evidence of looting and destruction by the jihadist group. Officials have reported that demining experts have removed dozens of bombs planted by ISIS across the historic city. Following the pattern of other recent recaptures from ISIS, such as Kobani in Syria and Sinjar in Iraq, the occupation and battle to re-take Palmyra wreaked havoc on the city, leaving buildings and historic sites in ruins.

Smoke billows from the Palmyra citadel on March 25, 2016, during a military operation by Syrian troops to retake the ancient city from ISIS militants. ISIS suffered a double setback as army troops recaptured parts of Palmyra and the Pentagon said the jihadists' second-in-command was killed in a U.S. raid.#

Syrian troops walk in the destroyed streets of the residential neighbourhoods in the modern town adjacent to the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra after they recaptured the UNESCO site from ISIS on March 27, 2016.#

A banner belonging to the Islamic court of the Islamic State is seen on the ground after forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad recaptured Palmyra, in Homs Governorate in this handout picture provided by SANA on March 27, 2016.#

Graffiti on a stone reading in Arabic: “Shooting without the permission of the chief is prohibited” near the remains of the entrance to the iconic Temple of Bel that was destroyed by ISIS jihadists in September 2015 in the ancient city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the site on March 27, 2016.#

In this photo released by SANA, a Syrian soldier holds a Syrian national flag in front of the Palmyra citadel during fighting between government forces and ISIS militants in Palmyra on March 27, 2016.#